Spring cushion assembly



June 16, 1953 J, QUINN 2,641,778

7 SPRING CUSHION ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 30, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l A INVENTOR. HLOYSIUS J. Quuwv HTTORNEY June 16, 1953 A. J. UINN SPRING CUSHION ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 30, 1949 INVENTOR. HLoYs/us J. QUINN FIVTTORNEY Patented June 16,1953

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING CUSHION ASSEMBLY Aloysius J. Quinn, North Bergen, N. J.

Application September 30, 1949, Serial No. 118,806

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in spring cushion assemblies designed for use in bed springs, cushions, mattresses and chair and seat backs in conveyances or elsewhere, and comprises a system or multiplicity of helical or coil springs arranged side by side and connected in rows with arcuate sections of their helical portions arranged in overlapping relationship.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a novel construction of spring cushion as sembly of the type in which the arcuate overlapping sections of the helical or coil springs are held or retained in such overlapped relationship by the use of a pair of tie-wires that extend to opposite sides of the contacting portions of such arcuate overlapping sections and are sccurely fastened thereto, which construction will be easy to assemble, economical to produce, and when assembled will have increased strength, flexibility and durability while being thoroughly fastened and integrated in a manner toprevent any relative shifting of the overlapped springs but to permit free flexing thereof axially under pressure and return of the same to normal condition upon release of the pressure.

Another object of this invention is in an assembly of the character specified having coil wire springs arranged in a plurality or series of rows, each row having springs disposed side by side with contiguous arcuate sections of helical portions disposed in overlapping relationship, to utilize a, fastening tie comprising a pair or parallel tie-wires having its members extending above and below and having an inter-tie twist at each side or the contacting portions of the overlapped arcuate sections of a pair of such overlapped springs soas to be suitably interengaged with or wrapped about such contacting portions of said arcuate overlapped sections.

Still another object of this inventionls, in a spring-cushion assembly of the spring-overlapped type specified having coilwire springs arranged in a plurality or series of rows, to extend my paired tie-wires to a plurality or series of rows and utilize a tie for such overlapping springs in a row and for adjacent rows thereof comprising a pair of tie wires having its members threaded to extend above and below and to both sides of each of the arcuate overlapping contacting sections of the springs on such a plurality of rows within the spring cushion assembly, and to provide said pair of wires at opposite sides of said contacting portionsof said overlapped arcuate sections with an inter-tie twisted portion adapted to produce fastening engagements between the tie-wire portions and said overlapping arcuate sections of the springs that extend to opposite sides of each of the contacting portions of such overlapping sections in a plurality of rows.

Still another object of this invention is in a construction or the character specified to space the rows of overlapping springs and to extend the pairs of tie wires through said inter row space to springs each having overlapping arcuate sections andto provide within such inter-row spaces twisted tie-wire portions in which the wires are twisted in opposite directions to produce the fastening of the arcuate overlapping portions of springs within a row and'alsc to connect and fasten adjacent rows together by a strong twisted section of the paired tic-wires.

Still another object of this invention is, in a spring cushion assembly of the type specified, to utilize pairs of tie-wires, one member of each pair being provided with an offset loop adapted to extend or project into the inter-arc space between the overlapping arcuate sections, and the other member of the pair of tie wires being extended through said offset loop to produce the tie-wire portions that extend above and below and to both sides of each of the contacting spring portions of said overlapping arcuate sections of the springs in a row, combined with suitable means, such as twisted portions outside of each of said overlapping sections to lock or fasten the row of springs.

With these and other objects in view, the in-- vention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to coact and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and

comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan of a fragmentary section of a spring cushion assembly showing mypaired tie-wires threaded through overlapping arcuate sections and twisted at opposite sides thereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction or" the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 2 showing my pair of tie-wires threaded through overlapping arcuate'sections before being twisted upon each other as shown inFigs. l and 2;

Fig. 4 is a'further enlarged cross section on the line 4-'-4 of Fig; 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified form of my invention and showing a portion of the overlapped springs illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the wires threaded through the overlapping arcuate sections before applying the twist lock shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view in plan similar to Fig. 5 of another modified form of my invention; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 8 showing said modified construction of Fig. 8 in a position similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 of these drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have shown a fragmentary portion of a spring cushion assembly or mattress comprising two spaced rows of helical or coil springs l arranged side by side, the springs of each row having portions of their helixes or coils overlapped and fastened together by the use of a plurality and preferably a pair of parallel tie-wires H and i2. The helical or coil springs illustrated are preferably of the conventional frusto-conical or double conical type and may during assembly be supported at one end in any well known manner so that the opposite portions thereof are free to move or yield axially. The rows of springs are preferably arranged in suitably spaced relationship with each other to provide inter-row spaces 13 while in each row adjacent sections of the helixes or coils at the free ends of the springs are positioned or arranged to have arcuate sections I4 and i thereof overlapping similar arcuate sections of adjacent springs in the row.

The provision of such overlapping arcuate sections provides therebetween contacting portions or joints [6 and ii and an inter-arc or interhelix opening it, and in accordance with the preferred form of my invention these overlapping arcuate sections have said pair of tie wires H and I2 extending transversely across the space l3 between the rows of springs in the cushion or mattress and each pair of the tie wires H and I2 preferably has both its members extending across the contacting portions l6 and I? of the arcuate overlapping sections M and [5 of the helixes of the springs. For example, one member H of said pair of said tie-wires may extend above or over one of the said contacting portions or joints, as for example, the joint l5, thence pass downwardly through the central inter-arc opening 18 and extend below the contacting portions l? at the opposite side of said inter-arc opening it to and across the space i3 outside said overlapping arcuate sections Id and [5 to a similar joint or contacting portion of overlapped arcuate section'of springs in an adjacent spaced row of springs, while the other member i2 of said pair of tie-wires will extend in the opposite direction from space 13 outside of said joint into a position above the joint ll, thence downwardly through said central interarc or inter-helix opening 58 and beneath the opposite overlapping joint or contacting portions of the arcuate overlapping sections of the two springs.

The eifect of this positioning of the members of the pair of tie wires will place portions of opposed tie-wire members extending above and below and to opposite sides of each of the joints or contacting portions of the arcuate overlapping spring-sections, including oppositely-bent portions that extend into and. also through the interarc opening is and parallel sections that extend beyond said joints or contacting portions into and across the inter-row space 13.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the pair of tie wires disposed as above specified are fastened together within the inter-row spaces at opposite sides of said overlapped arcuate sections in such manner as to retain and hold said overlapping arcuate sections securely in engagement with each other, and preferably in a tight engagement with each other, and. in the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated, the parallel sections of the pair of tie wires within said inter-row space and at opposite sides of said joints or contacting spring portions are provided with twisted portions adapted to produce fastening engagements between said tie wire portions and said overlapping spring sections. These inter-wire twisted portions extend. to opposite sides of the contacting portions of each overlapping spring section in a plurality or series of rows of springs within a spring cushion assembly, and in the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated, the parallel tie-wires within such inter-row spaces I3 have portions twisted in opposite directions to produce a fastening or tight inter-engagement of the arcuate overlapping sections of the springs within a row and also to fasten and tightly interengage with adjacent rows by a strong twisted section of the pair of parallel tie wires.

In order to produce the twisted portions hereinabove specified, it is only necessary to place a rigid member, such as the lever or tool l9, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, between the parallel sections within said inter-row spaces l3 so as to engage the wires therewith and thenrto turn the said tool to produce the oppositelytwisted portions 20 and 21.

The composition of the pair or tie-wires employed will comprise a suitable metallic material that will upon manipulation by the tool 59 provide permanent twists 20 and 2| as hereinabove specified. It will, of course, be understood that upon the removal of the lever or tool 19 an intermediate manipulating section 22 having the shape of the tool will be provided in the space between adjacent rows of springs.

In the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the springs H] are overlapped to provide overlapping sections [4 and 15 in all respects similar to the construction hereinabove specified in regard to Figs. 1 to 4 and I also employ a pair of tie wires that will place interengaged portions of opposed tie wire members within the inter-arc space between said overlapping spring sections and will also extend above and below and to "opposite sides of each of the joints or contacting portions It and I! of the arcuate overlapping spring sections I 4 and I5, but in the instant modification, one member of my pair of tie wires is provided with an offset loop 23 which extends or projects in an upward direction into and through the inter-arc space [8 between the overlapping arcuate sections,

while the other member of the pair of tie wires has a portion 24 extending through said offset loop, thus producing said interengaged portions in the space between the overlapped arcuate sections and also because of the use of two parallel tie wires providing tie-wire portions that extend above and below and to both sides of each of the contacting spring portions or joints I! and l8 of said overlapping arcuate sections of the'springs in a row thereof. A fastening inter-engagement is thus provided with a suitable means such as the twisted wire portions 20 and 2|, which, as shown, are in all respects similar to the twisted portions hereinabove described in relation to Figs. 1,2 and 3. The interrow twists as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are similarly made by the use of a suitable tool to produ-ce an intertwist manipulating section '22.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have shown another modified form in all respects similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to '7 except that one of the members of my pair of tie wires is provided with a downwardly or inwardly projecting ffset loop 25 extending into the inter-arc space l8 between the overlapping arcuate sections 14 and I 5, while the other member of the pair of tie wires has a portion 23 extending through said downwardly-extending offset loop 25 and below the joints or contacting portions [6 and I1, thus providing tie-wire portions having said interengaged portions within said inter-arc space and additional portions that extend above and below and to both sides of each ofthe contacting spring portions 16 and I! of the said overlapping arcuate sections l4 and I5 of the springs in a row, and in accordance with the preferred form of this modification, these tie wires are provided with twisted portions 20 and 2! and an intermediate manipulating section 22.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A cushion spring assembly comprising a row composedof a plurality of helical wire springs arranged side by side and having arcuate portions of adjacent springs arranged in overlapping relationship to provide therebetween an inter-arc space and contacting joint portions on opposite sidesthereof, a fastening tie for said springs comprising a pair of tie wires provided with portions having an interengaging contact with each other at a central position within said inter-arc space and additional portions extending in opposite directions to positions above and below each of the contacting joint portions of said arcuate overlapping spring portions, said pair of tie wires also having interengaging portions extending beyond the outer sides of said arcuate overlapping spring portions and adapted in combination with the inter-engagingtie-wire portions within said inter-arc space to fasten said overlapping spring sections together.

2. A cushion spring assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the interengaging portions of said pair of tie wires which extend beyond the outer sides of the contacting portions of said overlapping springs comprise permanently-bent inter-twisted portions.

3. A cushion spring assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the interengaging portions of said pair of tie wires which extend beyond the outer sides of the contacting portions of said overlapping springs comprise permanently-bent inter-twisted portions, and said inter-twisted portions have tightening frictional engagements with said overlapping and contacting joint portions of the springs. I

4. A cushion spring assembly comprising a row composed of a plurality of helical wire springs arranged side by side and having arcuate portions of adjacent springs arranged in overlapping relationship to provide therebetween an inter-arc space and contacting joint portions on opposite sides thereof, a. fastening tie for said springs comprising a pair of tie wires provided with portions having an interengaging contact with each other at a central positionwith-in said inter-arc space and additional portions extending in opposite directions to'positions above and below each of the'contacting' joint portions of said arcuate overlapping springs, said pair of tie wires also having interengaging portions-extending beyond the outer sides of said arcuate overlapping springs and adapted in combination with the inter-engaging tie-wire, portions within said inter-arc space to fasten, said overlapping springs together, said cushion spring assembly comprising a plurality of spring-rows spaced from each other to provide therebetween an'inter-row space, said pair of parallel tie wires being extended across said inter-row space and having within said inter-row space a manipulating section for twisting said tie wires to provide permanently bent inter-twisted portions extending to opposite sides of said manipulating section and into contact with overlapping spring portions in said plurality of spaced rows.

ALOYSIUS J. QUINN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Henry Oct. 8, 1889 Stoll Dec. 4, 1894 Lewis- -1 Aug. 4, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Number 

